Coffee_Johnny

Chart shows how, based on strength of opposition, plus home and away variation, I reckoned (in June) a top ten kind of season progresses. No great surprise that we’re 7 points ahead of where we would have needed to be! This means 30% ahead, keep going at anything like this rate and it will be a 70+ points season.

Aye, but… but… ?’Apparently’ the original Northumbrian flag was red and white (enough said…) until some morally defunct 1960’s gravy-stained councillor, no doubt propelled into power by blood money, changed the white to yellow, after a suspiciously unanimous vote in a smoke filled, and brown paper envelope strewn, office under the greasy shadows of the high level bridge. (…best I could do, but it might sound plausible in some quarters).

St Cuthbert, interred in MLF stronghold, The Venerable Bede Monkwearmouth and Jarrow, whole of County Durham is Land of Prince Bishops. I think Christianity, as we know it, is basically Makem too. Wonder if they are on some kind of modern crusade ?‍♂️

Spot on. Enjoyed the game and seats in, new to me, upper central section of East stand. Hope Miggy is just getting back up to speed and hasn’t shot his resurgent bolt!

Well done Magpie! (and IP) ?

Week 17 Brentford 2-2 Spurs Palace 2-2 Fulham Everton 1-1 Wolves Leicester 1-2 Newcastle Southampton 1-1 Brighton Villa 1-2 Liverpool Arsenal 1-1 West Ham Chelsea 2-0 Bournemouth Man United 2-0 Forest Leeds 1-3 Man City

Not sure I can get up for this now. I can’t get my paper tickets there in time for others to use. Is there a way of allowing people to pick up replacements at the ground/box office?

Captivating!

Let’s be careful out there! ?‍♂️

Mmm, we finished second in the Prem twice (first one hurt more than the cup losses for me—even the Arsenal one, which I was convinced we’d win) and followed-up with not very much of note—bar SBR working a bit of magic. We’ve also had two (well three) FA Cup final losses, in living memory (for some). Plus a League Cup final loss (which some can recall). Think I’d take a cup win and 7th. Bank a trophy and hope to build. Most would have taken 7th at the beginning of the season.

Suitable follow-up trophy to the Fairs Cup

Maybe he was muted, when it was mooted ?‍♂️

Well, madness/insanity is really only used for something that isn’t understood, where someone sees no reasoned thought in it. There’s plenty of reasoned thought in the ‘shame you didn’t have a Brazillian Amrabat on the bench’. Neither he nor Joelinton are world beaters in terms of goal threat. They are both great at breaking up play and enabling others to create. So I prefer the Shakespeare quote, for this specific issue: “Though this be madness, yet there is method in't!”

Well we’ll never know and it isn’t something that can be reasoned out. Just saying, I personally think Joelinton’s style, his energy and persistence in breaking-up opposition play (in an Amrabat kind of way) would have potentially made a positive difference and perhaps the critical difference. Especially coupled with his Newcastle team mate alongside.

Can’t speak for @Kanji, or anyone else, and I appreciate you are far more knowledgeable about the assets and tactics within the Brazil squad, but I genuinely thought (black and white bias aside) that a Joelinton in ‘search and destroy mode’ would have really helped Brazil break-up the Croatian midfield possession and recover the ball for others to do their, potentially amazing, thing. He may not be among the top five or six available Brazilian midfielders, or there may be even more ahead of him, you tell me. But I think balance and complementary styles is what makes a great team. Not necessarily the most skilful 11 individuals.

Ah knaa, he’ll be well disqualified!

Yep, very congested in the middle bit of that league, but Sunderland are closer to relegation than automatic promotion.

Allan Samson-Maximin

I can remember doing it to Watson, thought it was Villa though, pretty sure he smiled/chuckled.

Think he would have been an ideal against Croatia.

Depending upon the timing of the first goal, this could be a classic final. Reckon they’re quite evenly matched. Both teams have brilliance within and both have vulnerabilities. For what it is worth, I would have back the England squad against either (particularly in a league).

Heard he’s in the bag. Been seen driving through Pilau.

Well this is a pisser, with a week’s notice. Luckily I can still make it back for the game, imagine many can’t.

As if I am going to whip away the mystical veil of my third eye (errr… it’s not Ramos) and the potential of a future ‘I told you so’ (even though I haven’t) as easy as that!

Well seems they have some winnable games coming up. Maybe all things red and white will be rosy again soon. So pleased it is not our team in that situation though. Scrabbling for the play-offs, in vain hope of promotion to a league they’ll massively struggle to survive in.